Practice Test Geeks(PTCE) Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Practice Test
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Compounding Flashcards

7 cards from real PTCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. The term 'tonicity' in compounded ophthalmic solutions refers to:

    Answer: Osmotic pressure relative to blood or tears

    Tonicity describes the osmotic pressure of a solution compared to body fluids; ophthalmic preparations should be isotonic (~0.9% NaCl equivalent).

  2. Which of the following is an example of a compounded preparation that requires protection from light during storage?

    Answer: Nitroglycerin transdermal gel

    Nitroglycerin is photosensitive and must be stored in amber containers to prevent degradation.

  3. When calculating the amount of active drug needed for a compounded preparation, a technician uses the formula: quantity = (strength desired × volume desired) / stock strength. This is an application of which concept?

    Answer: Dilution equation (C1V1 = C2V2)

    C1V1 = C2V2 is the dilution equation used to calculate how much stock solution is needed to prepare a desired concentration and volume.

  4. A pharmacy must comply with USP when handling which category of compounding ingredients?

    Answer: Hazardous drugs (HDs)

    USP specifically governs safe handling, storage, and compounding of hazardous drugs to protect personnel and the environment.

  5. Which equipment is used to measure small volumes of liquid (< 1 mL) accurately in a compounding pharmacy?

    Answer: Calibrated oral syringe or micropipette

    Calibrated oral syringes and micropipettes provide the accuracy needed for measuring very small liquid volumes.

  6. What does 'geometric dilution' ensure when incorporating a small amount of a potent drug powder into a larger base?

    Answer: Uniform distribution of the drug throughout the preparation

    Geometric dilution progressively doubles the mixture to ensure the potent drug is evenly distributed before full incorporation.

  7. A technician is compounding a preparation requiring a pH of 4.5. Which ingredient would be MOST appropriate as a buffer?

    Answer: Sodium acetate / acetic acid buffer system

    An acetate buffer (acetic acid + sodium acetate) provides effective buffering capacity in the pH range of approximately 3.6–5.6.